Angus Parent Peer Support - APPS

25/08/2026

We know weekends don't suit everyone. We know Arbroath doesn't suit everyone. We probably can't suit everyone - but we are definitely trying!!

We will continue to meet every second Saturday, but we are actively looking for places to meet on another evening during the week - Tuesday evenings in fact.

I'd love to hear whether this is something you'd be interested in attending, and also your suggestions for a venue on a Tuesday evening.

21/08/2026

Just a gentle reminder that we are holding our peer support group tomorrow at 10.30am in the
Arbroath Round O Five O (saturday 22nd August) for parents and carers of children in secondary school.

In addition to support element of this group, we are also meeting to focus on an action plan going forward and your input/experience would be valuable and welcomed

We are a small, supportive and proactive group and you would be made very welcome

10/08/2026

Calling all Angus parents & carers - who is out there with us?

​Navigating school avoidance, school non-attendance, and youth mental health conditions can feel incredibly lonely. It often feels like you are the only family fighting this corner - but you aren’t.

​We have built this group to be a safe space where we can share lived experiences, swap practical coping strategies, and support one another without any judgment.

​We’d love to know who is in the room:

👇 Drop a comment below to let us know you're here (even just a simple "Hi" or a wave emoji 👋 helps us know we're connecting!)

​If you feel comfortable sharing, what age group is your child in, or what area of Angus are you joining us from?

I'll start...I'm Arbroath and my son is 15 💙

08/06/2026

If you are a parent/carer for a secondary school-aged young person who is struggling. You are not alone.

​Whether your child is facing

👤 s​chool attendance barriers or school refusal

👤​Mental health challenges, anxiety, or burnout

👤️​Navigating neurodiversity (diagnosed or suspected)

👤​Social isolation and feeling left behind

​👤.️..and you are completely worn out from trying to get answers from services that feel out of reach, this space is for you.

💥​This isn't just another support group💥 ​This is a peer-led, proactive space powered by parents and carers who have been through the fire. We aren’t just "like-minded"—we are a community of people with real, lived experience. We’ve navigated the systems, we’ve faced the hurdles, and we’ve learned a lot along the way.

​We meet every fortnight to share wisdom, offer practical insights, and lift each other up in a genuinely positive, forward-moving environment. No judgment. Just real understanding.

We meet every fortnight at the Arbroath Round O Five O from 10.30am. Next meeting is this Saturday, 13th June 2026.

💥💥💥 Please share this amongst your facebook friends as you just never know who needs to see this today! Thank you 😊

Peer support group for parents/carers of young people with mental health conditions/school avoidance

21/03/2026

We decided to make the most of the weather and meet today at Kinblethmont House, where they are hosting an open garden and pop up cafe (The Hub at Friockheim)

A small group of parents/carers who have supported each other through some really tough times, whilst navigating our teenagers mental health and inability to attend school on a regular basis. I believe it takes a village to raise a child, and here we raised a village. If you have a child who attends secondary school, who is struggling to attend and you need an understanding ear, guidance through the wisdom of our lessons learnt, or even just meet like-minded people, we meet fortnightly. Next meeting Saturday 4th April at 10.30am Arbroath Round O Five O

20/02/2026

The kettle will be on from 10.30am tomorrow at the Arbroath Round O Five O 16 Barbers Croft, Arbroath and a warm welcome 🙏

If you are a parent/carer of a young person in secondary school who is unable to attend, or facing any mental health issues, this is the place for you. A small group of parents who have been through it and learnt lessons along the way, or supporting each other. Just feeling heard is half the battle!

Door is open and you are welcome

03/10/2025

⚠️ With the weather due to take a turn for the worse, we decided to cancel tomorrow's meeting. We have people coming from across Angus, and we prefer common sense and preventative measures! ⚠️

20/09/2025

Today we met and, as well as having the most delicious cakes, we talked openly about a lot of issues affecting us parents, with teenagers, who are unable to attend school. We don't have to explain in great detail because we just 'get it'. This group is about feeling seen and understood.

We as a group reflected on our own experiences, which shape our lives and our children. We talked a lot about living in the present moment and not getting too caught up in the 'what-ifs'. So easy to do that, think the worst, but we celebrate the absolute brilliance that our children bring. We also had a really good laugh!! It's an extremely positive meeting, where advice is shared, and we are all learning from each other! If you can't be swayed to join by that, then there is always the cakes.....

18/08/2025

"Back to school tomorrow 🥳"

How many times have you read this today and your heart just sinks because back to school, for you, isn't a celebration.

I started this group because, as a working mum, I used to have to drop my child off at secondary school, in floods of tears (and that was after a battle to get there in the first place). I was already exhausted and overwhelmed and that was before my shift at work began. Then, I'd receive countless messages during the day from my child, pleading with me to help them. They felt sick. They had a headache, they had a million reasons for just wanting out of there. They don't know why, they just know that this place is making them feel disregulated. They are facing burnout. Meanwhile, I'd be receiving these messages and feeling helpless. It was a continuous cycle and it isn't sustainable, neither for me or my child.
The trouble is, societal norms and the lack of support will continue piling on the overwhelm, even when your child may not be attending regularly, if at all. This group is a place where we get it. A place you will feel seen - we can't remove any of the barriers to education, but we do try. We are a proactive and passionate group about these matters, but mostly, we just are there for each other when it can feel like no one else is.

This is open to any parent/carer of secondary school aged child, who is struggling to attend school, for whatever reason.

We meet this Saturday and fortnightly thereafter. 10.30am Round 0 Five O building, 16 Barbers Croft, Arbroath

08/08/2025

So, our schools are going back in just over a weeks time. Your teenager is perhaps already feeling that anxiety. Or you as a parent/carer are growing apprehensive because you know what's coming.
This is a group of parents/carers of children attending Secondary school who have a mental health condition and/or emotional based school avoidance. It's a positive and proactive group and we welcome you along.

It is a small group but already proving to be a valuable resource. A place to share, learn from each other and feel validated and heard.

We meet fortnightly in Arbroath. Arbroath Round O Five O building. Please feel free to message the page if you would like more information about coming along.